Waterloo Region & Guelph

GrantLocal program

Façade Grant Program

A City of Kitchener grant for street-facing façade work on downtown buildings. It can pay up to half the cost of a project. It's for property owners and tenants in the Downtown Community Improvement Area with a commercial use on the ground floor.

Amount
Up to $10,000 per street address or storefront ($20,000 corner lot with work on both frontages, $30,000 for buildings with multiple storefronts)
Status
Year-roundThe city accepts applications on a rolling basis. Grants depend on available funding. No deadline is listed.
Type
Matching grant (50%)
Run by
City of Kitchener
Where
Kitchener
Checked on
Nov 13, 2026

Who it's for

  • Downtown property owners and tenants
  • The property must be inside the Downtown Community Improvement Area
  • Ground floor used for retail, restaurant or dining, or services

Not for

  • Properties outside the Downtown Community Improvement Area
  • Building fees: not reimbursed in this funding round
  • A property or storefront that already got $10,000 from the program in the last 5 years

What it covers

  • Repainting, cleaning or re-facing the façade
  • Masonry, brick or wood repair and restoration
  • Cornices, eaves, parapets and similar features
  • Window repair or replacement
  • Entrance changes that improve looks or access
  • Storefront redesign and rebuild
  • New or improved signage
  • Canopies, awnings and exterior lighting
  • Restoring historic features
  • Accessibility features that meet AODA standards
  • Design fees and other soft costs, up to 10% of the grant

How to apply

  1. Check the property is inside the Downtown Community Improvement Area
  2. Read the city's urban design guidelines; email the city for the King Street façade guidelines
  3. Make sure the plan follows the sign bylaw and the Ontario Building Code
  4. Apply through the city's online application form
  5. The grant is paid after the work is finished

Good to know

  • The city says it may pay up to 50% of the total project cost.
  • If requests are more than the funding available, a selection committee scores applications and the highest scores get grants.
  • The city looks for good storefront design, good signage, upper-storey façade work, AODA accessibility upgrades and a strong streetscape impact.
  • The page lists $20,000 and $30,000 caps but also says a property or storefront can't get more than $10,000 within 5 years. Ask the city how these fit together for your building.
  • The page doesn't say whether work started before approval can be funded or how many quotes are needed.

Questions

Do I have to own the building to apply?

No. The city says the program is for downtown property owners and tenants. The property has to be inside the Downtown Community Improvement Area.

When do I get the money?

The city says grants are issued after the proposed work is completed. Grants also depend on funding being available.

Is there a deadline?

No deadline is listed. The city says it accepts applications on a rolling basis.

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